After around 60,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave last week, Madrid faces criticism and calls for Schengen suspension ahead of an emergency EU interior ministers' videoconference.
Spain has requested "solidarity from all European Union member states" ahead of an emergency videoconference of EU interior ministers scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2026, dedicated to responding to the uncontrolled influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa. The request was made by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, after some member states, led by Italy, called for Spain's suspension from the Schengen Area.
Last Thursday and Friday (July 30 and 31, 2026), around 60,000 migrants, mostly young Moroccans, swam or otherwise crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, a city of just 83,500 inhabitants. Spanish authorities returned nearly 48,000 people to Morocco within 48 hours. This event immediately sparked strong reactions across Europe. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suspended air and sea borders with Spain within Schengen for a month on Saturday, while Finland, the Czech Republic, and Denmark also called for border closures.
Minister Albares sharply condemned these moves in an interview with Spanish television TVE, calling them "deliberate confusion" and part of the actions of a "reactionary international" that "works against Europe." At the same time, he assured that "the integrity of the Schengen Area is absolutely guaranteed." Camille Le Coz, director of the Migration Policy Institute Europe, described Italy's suspension of Schengen to FRANCE 24 as "pure political theater," emphasizing that none of the migrants arrived from Ceuta to mainland Spain.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote in a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday that "it is clear from this incident that we must do more to further strengthen our borders at critical points" and that "protecting all our external borders is a shared European responsibility." In his letter to EU leaders, Sánchez described the actions of some partners as "selfish."
While Madrid seeks solidarity, Spain's intelligence service, according to the newspaper Blick, claims that the mass crossing was organized by Morocco as an act of revenge. Possible reasons cited include Sánchez's recent visit to Algeria, Morocco's geopolitical rival, and Morocco's persistent claims on Ceuta and Melilla. Morocco's Interior Ministry rejects these accusations, claiming that the influx was spontaneously triggered by false information on social media and misinterpretation of a ruling by Spain's Supreme Court on July 8, 2026, which makes it harder to quickly return migrants.
There are significant discrepancies in the data regarding the number of deaths during the crossing attempts. The Spanish government's delegate in Ceuta, Miguel Angel Perez Triano, told the Taipei Times: "The latest figure we have is 72." Other sources also cite a figure of 88 deaths. On the other hand, Moroccan authorities officially acknowledge only 11 deaths, while the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) claims that the victims number "almost 130," with dozens listed as missing.
While political bickering continues, human stories remain at the heart of the crisis. Moroccan migrant Aziz Dabch told the Taipei Times: "All the children here want to go to Spain." In the port of Ceuta, Spanish soldiers detained a group of nine migrants who tried to hide on a ferry. Pope Leo XIV commented on the situation during his daily prayers on Sunday, saying he is following events with "concern" and calling for "peace, stability, and justice."
The Schengen Area guarantees freedom of movement for 450 million citizens of the EU and associated countries. Although Ceuta and Melilla are part of Spain, special Schengen rules apply: those arriving from Schengen do not need to show identification, but those departing are subject to mandatory border checks. This legal framework further complicates the debate over the justification for calls for suspension.
